Hello :)
This is my first fanfiction " Once Factionless, always factionless? "
I have wrote this fanfiction in german before and now I've translated it :)

Thanks to my beta reader Ine :)

I hope you enjoy it ;)

Marla Parker is twenty years old and she's living her life on the streets. She has never belong to a faction, since he parents were already factionless. But one phrase could change her whole life. If she allows it. ( … All factionless children, from 16 to 25 years, have been given the opportunity to attend the aptitude test… ) ( takes place one year before the books. Characters from the Divergent World: Four and Eric ) ( Pairing OC/ Eric)

Confused, I stare at the man standing on the platform high above me. Just a few hours ago it appeared out of nowhere. Usually nothing good follows, when member of all the five factions appear - apart of the Abnegation. They take care of us by bringing us clothing and food, blankets and sometimes equipment like pans and kettles. Members of the other factions on the other hand, never come here. Why should they? We are factionless. Abandoned by the community.

I try to repeat the man's words in my head, to understand exactly what they mean. Did he really just say that? Could he mean it? I look over my shoulder, first to the right, then to the left. I see the equally perplexed faces of the people around me. Some of them don't seem interested, others are whispering amongst eachother. And others are just as amazed, as I am.

… All factionless children, from 16 to 25 years, have been given the opportunity to attend the aptitude test…

Have been given the opportunity to attend the aptitude test? This has never happend before. At least not in the twenty years I'm alive. His words start to sink in and I eagerly open my mouth to ask a question. But I just can't speak.

The man on the podium clears his throat and looks at a piece of paper which he holds in his trembling hands. Apparently he does not feel comfortable where he is standing. He keeps glancing over at the armed to the teeth members of Dauntless. Just as he probably thinks, we could pounce on him any second. This idea is so ridiculous, that I can't help but shake my head.

The microphone squeaks loudly as he finishes his little speech. He tells us when and where the aptitude test will be held. Most of my fellow bystanders are wandering off, either bored or getting back to their everyday schedule. I however, try to remember the date and time of the aptitude test.

It's going to be in two weeks, together with the aptitude test for the others. All of the sudden my heart starts beating faster. I have to remember the date somehow. I turn and have a look around. There has to be something to write with and some paper around here somewhere. And, indeed. In a spartan accommodation, I find a crumpled newspaper and a battered-looking pencil.

I have to concentrate while I write down the date and time. It's not like I even know what date we have today. If the speaker wouldn't have mentioned that the aptitude test will be in two weeks, I would be pretty screwed. I quickly write down the numbers from one to fourteen and scratch out the first number. I look around to make sure no one is watching and put the pen and paper in my pocket.

The days leading up to the aptitude test go by terribly slow. But finally the day has come. The night before the test I can't sleep. I just toss and turn around, until I finally get up by the first ray of sunshine and get dressed. It's not that I own a lot of clothes, but the Abnegation have come by one more time and brought ordinary trousers, a pair of shoes and a simple shirt for those that want to participate in the aptitude test. I sneak out of the small camp, where I sleep together with the other factionless. At night, we often come together in little groups to avoid attacks by others. Sometimes successfully - sometimes not so much.

I make my way out of the camp and as I leave the borders behind me, I give up any little hope of finding an abandoned piece of bread. Obviously I won't find something to eat. I've been walking for almost an hour when I arrive at the big building where the test takes place. I have never been here before. At least not alone. Sometimes I came here with friends in the middle of the night. But now it's daytime and here and there some people are already on their ways.

From afar, I could look like I'm in Abnegation. Those that would come closer would see what I actually am. My hair is matted and dirty, even though I quickly washed it the day before with some rain water. My skin is tanned from the sun, fingernails dirty and broken. Slightly embarrassed I hide them in my pockets and walk towards to the building.

Although it is still very early, five small lines of people have already formed in front of the building. I look at the five symbols carved into the wall above the people's heads. Each one above a line of people. Then I see a sixth symbol on the far right, attached to the building. I stare at the symbol and realize, what it means. It is an empty circle, the sign of the factionless. My gaze moves to a small table and chair standing under the sign.

I take a deep breath and keep on moving. Once I get closer to the table, I see that the chair is empty. Hesitantly, I stop walking. I notice the unpleasant looks of some people from the other factions. They have noticed my arrival and where I am going. As on command, an armed man enters the shadow behind a pillar. A Dauntless.

I ask myself if I should keep moving. Eventually, I do. There aren't many more steps needed to arrive at the table. The Dauntless soldier looks at me and nods. First I think he nods at me, but then I see a small woman appearing behind him. She sits down on the chair.

" Name? ", she asks me.

I stare at her and cough. The dauntless man wrinkles his forehead. I wonder what he must think of me, since it looks like I don't know my own name. But I do know my name, of course. I'm just too excited all of he sudden.

"Marla.", I say unclearly. I clear my throat, because I know that nobody understood me. "Marla Parker."

The woman's pen moves across the paper. Then she nods at me and leaves again. I stay behind on my own.

Hours go by and the place fills up by the minute. The the five factions' Lines are getting longer. Only mine consists of just a handful of people. They are going to let us in any minute now, and I'm sure nobody else from the factionless was going to show up. I remember how my people had come to take all the stuff from the Abnegation. As if they were happy to be able to participate in the test and change something in their lives. Apparently those were all lies.

My eyes wander to the left, over to the five factions. Which one is most likely meant for me? Is it Abnegation - the Selfless? I have never been selfless. I have done everything for my survival and never something for the others. The Erudite - the scholars - I only just learned how to count and I am barely able to read. Dauntless? The Brave. All my life I've had to be brave. Honestly I would be nice to have some time off from being brave.

Maybe it should be an Amity? If I am being honest, this is the one I like the most. They always seem so happy, they sing and wear wonderful colorful clothes.

I am torn from my thoughts when I hear the loud shuffle of footsteps. Its time. They are letting us in.

It's cold on the iron chair. I was a little excited before, but now I'm panicking. I assumed that they would ask me a few questions, that I might be asked to take a test on a paper. But it does not look like it. A Dauntless man stands infront of me. He has long bright green hair on one side and smooth shaved on the other. He has two piercings in his lip and a big one in his nose. It looks a bit like a cattle-ring. His eyes are rimmed with black eyeliner. He looks scary. But I have seen more terrifying things in my life already.

He hands me a glass of water and I gratefully take it. When I'm nervous, my mouth always goes dry. So dry that I can hardly say a word. I want to drink, but as I notice the acid smell of the liquid I realise it is not water.

" You have to drink it. For the test. It will not hurt you. " He tells me as if he could read my mind.

I sceptically take a look at the glass, but eventually I drink the liquid. He steps behind me and attaches electrodes to my head and suddenly everything seems to blur. I close my eyes for a second and when I open them again I am alone.

Where did he go? I sit up and start to look around when I hear a growl. I turn around to see a huge dog standing in front of me. How did he get here? Immediately I begin to look for something I could use in defense and as if someone were reading my thoughts, suddenly two shells appear.

On one of them is a piece of cheese, on the other a knife. I do not think to long about the useless cheese and take the knife. I turn it in my hand. Its not the first time, that I am using a knife. It does not take five seconds and the dog is sprinting at me. I go into an attack position and wait for him to come the closest. Then I jump on him and stab the knife in his body.

Breathing heavily, I find myself in the icy chair again. Except it's not icy anymore, my skin sticks to the surface of the chair and I'm drenched in sweat.

" Well done. That was a clear thing. ", says the dauntless. I stare at him. What just happened? Was I dreaming?

" This was a simulation, which we use to determine which faction is right for you. " as if he knows what I was thinking.

"And which one is right for me?" I asked eagerly. He smiles widely.

" Dauntless. "

Thanks for reading my first chapter :)